Zeitgeist spirit

Zeitgeist spirit The digital age has brought several conveniences and inconveniencies to the modern life. The sweeping changes that have been brought about by the digital age have affected almost all aspects of life. The ease of access to information has also enabled people to question their choices in life and contemplate how their careers will be affected by the digital age.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Zeitgeist spirit specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This happens to two salesmen whose careers become irrelevant due to the digital age. These two men are the subject of the movie â€Å"The Internship† which premiered in 2013. The movies portrays several shocks that have been brought about by the digital age including diminishing careers, changing work environments, changes in employer-employee relations, among other shocks. The dynamics of the business world are also shifting from a profit oriented business culture towards a more people oriented corporate culture. Over the last ten years, several movies have addressed various angles of these changes in the employer-employee relations through several movies such as â€Å"The Horrible Bosses† and â€Å"The Heist†. These movies depict the souring relationships between employers and employees. The recent revolution in the corporate world involves bridging this gap and making employees feel more like part of the corporate world and less like ‘tools’ to be used by corporate world. This revolution has brought about workplace day-care programs, extended paternity leaves, recreational facilities in the workplace, additional employee freedom, and giving employees access to free stuff. â€Å"The Internship† is able to capture the Zeitgeist spirit of the changes occasioned by the digital age and the quest to bridge the employee-employer gap in today’s corporate environment. â€Å"The Internship† is a movie about two men, Billy and Nick who find themselves jobless after their line of business becomes obsolete. This is after their employer goes out of business due to the diminishing demand for watches. Billy then applies for the internship positions at the giant tech company, Google.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The two friends are consequently accepted for the summer internship in spite of their advanced ages. At Google, Nick and Billy find themselves as the odd interns when they are pitted against the other ivy-league schooled interns. The terms of the internship specify that interns â€Å"form teams that compete against each other and the members of the winning team get jobs at Google† (The Internship). Billy and Nick team up with three other odd-placed interns and their group is led by an equally odd character, Stuart. The movie depicts among other things the work envi ronment at Google, the interrelationships between top-level employees and lower-level employees, and the type of employees that are found at Google. Google is a company with a global outlook and it represents the most advanced level of digital culture. Right from the time Billy and Nick arrive at Google headquarters, they are bombarded with shocking levels of advanced digital technology. For instance, at the company’s entrance the two interns encounter a car that is ‘driving itself’ (The Internship). This advancement in digital technology is a reality in the modern world. The leading players in digital technology are always trying to outdo each other by fronting what is thought to be the most advanced level of digital technology (Kosfeld and Siemens 25). The remotely driven car is an example of displays of advanced digital technology. Due to the changing nature of the digital technology, today’s society is always on the lookout for the ‘newestâ€℠¢ form of technology. This need has prompted tech companies to dedicate a vast amount of their resources to finding the next big thing in technology. This movie represents the spirit of the fast changing digital age in a number of ways. In another instance, the interns’ teams are given the challenge of coming up with a phone app that is most likely to appeal to the public. Therefore, the winning app must represent the newest levels of digital technology. Corporations are going to great lengths to ensure that their employees are representative of the diversity of the modern world. Globalization has made it possible for anyone to work anywhere in the planet irrespective of the accompanying differences in cultures.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Zeitgeist spirit specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The corporations are also working hard to bridge the cultural gap between different ethnicities around the world. For example, today there are various technological applications that are aimed at bridging this cultural gap. â€Å"The Internship† represents the spirit of diversity through the movie’s cast. The interns in Billy and Nick’s group consist of Neha who is of Indian descent, Yo-Yo who is Chinese, among other diverse groups and mentalities. For example Neha, Stuart, Graham, and Yo-Yo all exhibit several deficiencies in their social behaviors. The spirit of diversity in the modern world is not restricted to racial diversity. However, diversity today calls for the inclusion of people who exhibit differing social behaviors. For example, the popular American comedy â€Å"The Big Bang Theory† portrays diversity among people of different intellectual abilities. â€Å"The Internship† seeks to capture the same spirit by portraying interns of different age groups, races, social orientations, and intellectual abilities (The Internship). The issues of misunderstandin gs among diverse groups are not synonymous with the digital age. For instance, the race issue does not come up in â€Å"The Internship† but other forms of diversity such as age and intellectual diversity are referred to in the movie. This spirit of the changing nature in diversity is well captured in the movie. From the 1900s, the relationship between employees and employers has been strained. First, there were the repressive working conditions during the industrial revolution (Bernstein 67). Then there were the employee inequality issues in the 1950s. More recently, the disparities between top-level and low-level employees that were highlighted during the recession have been the subject of rebuke within the modern society. This movie is able is able to capture the spirit of the changing nature of corporate culture. For example, the issue of employee rank is not emphasized in the movie. It is not until the end of the movie when the identity of the silent employee commonly kno wn as â€Å"Headphones† is revealed. ‘Headphones’ holds the esteemed position of the head of Google search. Previously, he could only be found around the premises blending with the rest of employees including interns.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, most employees in the movie are given titles in accordance with the departments they work for as opposed to having titles that reflect on their rank. The movie is able to capture the spirit of change in the employer-employee relations. â€Å"The Internship† is a movie that details the work environment in one of the most respected corporations in the world. The movie is able to depict how the digital age is changing people’s lives as well as the corporate environment. The movie represents the Zeitgeist spirit in matters of the digital age and the corporate environment. In future, the movie will be used to investigate the digital age at its prime. Bernstein, Irving. Turbulent Years: A History of the American Worker 1933-1941, New York, NY: Haymarket Books, 2010. Print. Kosfeld, Michael and Ferdinand Siemens. Competition, Cooperation, and Corporate Culture. The RAND Journal of Economics 42.1 (2011): 23-43. Print. The Internship. Dir. Shawn Levy. Perf. Vince Vau ghn and Owen Wilson. Wild West Picture Show Productions, 2013. Film.

Christmas Eve Essays

Christmas Eve Essays Christmas Eve Essay Christmas Eve Essay The train is full of hundreds of people waiting for the same destination as mine. I look around to see if there are any seats available but all I see is people pushing and shoving as if they were a herd of sheeps. I could hear people muttering rude comments at each other like a crowd of bees buzzing towards me. I see a man that lives on my street, I push towards him. As I get closer I can smell a cheesy odour, remembering how awful his scent is, I slowly try to make my way away from him hoping that he doesnt see me. I hear a voice say, Next stop Bond Street I can feel all the excitement in the air, theres silence in the train, but I can hear heart beats pumping faster and faster. The train stops.Everyone runs towards the stores as if the worlds about to end. While people push and shove their way threw I get effortlessly tossed off the train. I reach a street full of department stores and food places. The Christmas decorations beautifully hang from lamp posts a nd trees. I feel the Christmas atmosphere around me, filling me with joy and excitement; lights falling from the trees make the street even brighter than before.I intend to go Subway and get a quick and easy sandwich, so I can get started with all the shopping. I look around but dont see a Subway at sight, I hear stall men shout,Get your ice cream hereGet your hot dogs hearBut none sound appealing, the smell of doughnuts attract me. I start to see shoppers with hot, creamy, mouth watering doughnuts in their hands as if it were all planned. I walk towards Zara, to see if the smell gets stronger. I hear,Get you doughnuts heeeeThe voice starts to fade away; I trace my steps back, like a detective looking for clues. I start to hear the stall man again, this time much clearer. I look to my right and there he stands just a walking distance away, calling out to me. The shoppers around me carry enormous bulging carrier bags, all advertising, Zara, Gap, and Fcuk. Theres no room to walk in be tween the market stalls. For a second I feel as if I were in India between the everyday hustle and bustle.I decide to take the anxious attitude everyone else has, like a lizard changing its colours. I barge my way through and try to get to my goal, the doughnut stall. I finally reach the stall, I feel as if I have just won a marathon.I hold the, freshly made, hot, soft as a cushion, doughnut in my hand as if it were a trophy. Just the look of it made my taste buds jump with excitement. I wait and admire the doughnut, my nose now filled with a mixture of smells as people walk pass with other types of food. My hands start to get sticky due to the icing; I hold the doughnut to my mouth and take a big delicious, chocolaty bite. My taste buds dance with joy, tingling with the sweet aroma of chocolate. As the soft bread particles dissolve in my saliva, I hold up the doughnut for another bite. This time I go for a bigger one, my teeth break through the icing and slowly pass the bread. I gr adually repeat my actions on the rest of the doughnut. Once I finish I crave more.

Sociology of Developing Countries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Sociology of Developing Countries - Essay Example As far as radical ideology is concerned, these were found to be largely absent. The urban poor are, generally, supportive of them and see the government as doing its best to understand their issues (Griffiths, 2011). In order to benefit the rural poor, it is important to encourage good governance via decentralization. While this alone cannot help the rural poor in achieving this, inclusion of the program will mobilize them; motivate the poor, as well as marginal households, to seek available resources and opportunities. External agencies, their resources, experience, and expertise are important to development of the decentralization process (Griffiths, 2011). Urbanization seems to be happening at an unprecedented rate, with most of the individuals now living in the cities, as opposed to the countryside. By 2050, the UN forecasts that seventy percent of the world’s population will be urbanized compared to only thirty percent in 1950. Developing countries in Africa and Asia are the most affected, especially as opportunities for employment shift to the city and agriculture’s labor requirements decrease. Ultimately, this trend may prove destabilizing, as developing countries look set to achieve lower per capita income compared to developed countries at their point of urbanization. Countries with large urban populations of the younger generation are more prone to civil unrest compared to those with lower populations. These developing countries with increased urban population also have trouble in sustaining credible institutions of democracy (Handelman, 2011). These poor and disorganized cities also create the perfect ground for the emergence of gangs, crime-lords, as well as senseless riots. Rapid urbanization of developing countries, therefore, is expected to bring with it magnified scenarios of what happened during the same phase in developed countries. Another consequence of this urbanization of developing countries is international terrorism, since the

Assessing IT Security Measures of HSBC Bank Coursework

Assessing IT Security Measures of HSBC Bank - Coursework Example Pre defined and anticipated risks have to be assessed meticulously and the adequacy of safety measures has to be ascertained to incorporate all the necessary and change and improvements required in the security systems. This current study aims to identify the various security issues that have blemished HSBC’s image and status in the recent past. The report also features the security policy that has been redefined by the organization in order to mitigate the anticipated risks along with the advanced security features that have been installed in the systems for assuring safety and security to its clients. INTRODUCTION HSBC has encountered numerous instances of data theft that has affected thousands of customers. Data reveals that almost 24,000 clients have suffered financial losses. In the year 2006, almost 9000 customers holding an account in HSBC Switzerland had their account data pilfered (Barrett L, 2010). After such incidents, it became necessary for the bank to incorporate significant improvements to its data security measures and the system as a whole involving technology in order to upgrade the current status. Such revisions added to the overall cost burden of the organization almost $93 million (Barrett L, 2010). ... However such information was shared between the administrators and home office staff that created unwanted problems for the firm. After analyzing the current case, it can be said that security issues have greatly tarnished the organization’s reputation and image. A huge amount of fine the largest fine ever imposed in UK, approximately 5% million dollars was forced on three HSBC firms for implementing ineffective and inadequate security measures (Barrett L, 2010). LITERATURE REVIEW There are numerous threats faced by an organization in the modern times, but till now there has been no single or uniform strategy that could be adopted by organizations as one comprehensive policy to resolve the issues or mitigate the challenges right from hardware to software, from core to application and from local issues to broad network problems ( Chen L, Dan Feng D & Ming L, 2007). With the rapid advancement and growth in the IT sector, parallel developments have also been witnessed in their il legal and unethical use (Ditzion R, Geddes E, & Rhodes M, 2003; Maher M K & Thompson J. M, 2002). The negative consequences of cyber crime are tremendous causing financial and economic loss both to the organization as well as the economy. The irony is that such crimes require too less a resources and equally low technical expertise. Past data reveals that almost 5percent of US based organizations including banks have been attached by computer virus and hackers which have caused huge losses to the firms and their clients (Barr K, Beiting M & Grezeskinski A, 2003). In a research conducted by Meier D, Mackman A, Dunner M, Vasireddy S, Escamilla R & Murukan A (2006), a systematic process of an attacker’s methodology was analyzed in-depth

A poetic form for philosophical contemplation Essay Example for Free

A poetic form for philosophical contemplation Essay ‘The Ode is used as a poetic form for philosophical contemplation. ’ Compare two odes by Keats in the light of this observation Ode on a Grecian Urn and Ode to a Nightingale were written in May 1819, a time in Keats’ life which he devoted entirely to poetry. Both of these poems contemplate the poet’s approaching death, using stimuli of what is on the face of a Grecian vase and the song of a nightingale. There are differences and similarities between the two poems, and both will be looked at in the essay. Both of the above poems are odes. An ode is a form of poetry about emotion. First used by the Romans and Greeks, the form was revived in England in the 17th century. The form was popular among the English Romantic poets. A typical verse of an ode consists of a quatrain with a rhyme structure of ABAB and a sestet with a rhyme structure of CDECDE. However, Keats tended to be more liberal with his rhyme structures in his odes. Keats was born in 1795 and was the last born of the English romantic poets He became interested in poetry through his secondary school headmaster, who introduced him to Renaissance poetry and so the ode. Both of his parents died before he turned fifteen, so he became familiar with loss at an early age. His most famous sets of poems were his odes and these were written as Keats’ tuberculosis worsened in 1819. He died in 1821. There are two main themes in Keats’ odes: beauty and death. It is obvious beauty is looked at intently in Ode on a Grecian Urn, as the urn seems to tell the poet in the second to last line: ‘â€Å"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,†Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. Keats firstly tries to tell the reader what the urn’s figures think of beauty. They see happiness in beauty, as they are in ‘wild ecstasy’ to be with ‘fair’ women and listen to ‘pipes and timbrels’. Because they will be youthful forever, Keats tells them this is ‘all ye need to know’, as ignorance is bliss. Beauty is also looked at in Ode to a Nightingale The nightingale is similar to the urn’s individuals, because it is able is to ‘quite forget’ the horror of old age and can forever fly free above ‘hungry generations’ of people. Unlike the Urn, its ‘plaintive anthem fades’ without actually helping the author in any way.

Affirmative Action :: essays research papers

Affirmative action is a growing argument among our society. It is multifaceted and very often defined vaguely. Some can define affirmative action as the ability to strive for equality and inclusiveness. Others might see it as a quota-based system for different minority groups. Is affirmative action fair? Are minority groups on equal footing? Is gaining employment for minorities difficult? Is education easily obtained for the minority groups of people? Affirmative action endeavors to answer all these questions, while allowing society to believe harmony exists. Affirmative action has definitely helped women and minorities in their careers, but it has yet to succeed in the goal of equality in the business world for women and minorities. As more and more women are faced with discrimination in large firms, more have decided to strike out on their own. Today employers both private and public require individuals to take a test before entering their place of employment. For example, if one were to apply for a job in a supermarket a test for your basic educational skill is required. To become a fireman, policeman, teacher, or Kentucky Fried Chicken employee you are required to take a test before being hired. To further your education you need to take a test to enter a University. Jobs for today are in the technological, computer, and Internet areas. The need to be educated is a part of life. In our society there are difficulties with basic education. Affirmative action gives minorities the right to equal education. Is affirmative action fair? Affirmative action has become a tool for minorities to use for equality in the business world. Women, African Americans, Hispanics and the like now have a level tool that would support their rights as individuals in the business world. Yes, affirmative action demonstrates fairness. Are minority groups on equal footing? Today, affirmative action is recognized however, the 'glass ceiling' is still there. The glass ceiling refers to "you can see it, but you can't get it". Minorities can reach for the ceiling but still have difficulty actually trying to touch it. Unfortunately affirmative action cannot tell society to behave in a way that would place every individual, every minority group on equal footing. Affirmative action is a great tool for minorities. It encourages equality in humanity. I agree and support affirmative action in that individual's should be treated equally. Affirmative action is still needed. Although women and people of color have come a long way in the decades since the Civil Rights Act was passed, discrimination still exists.

The Hoover Company and Dyson

Table of Contents Question 12 Dyson’s Value Chain Model2 Competency framework model3 DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS4 Question 25 VRIO FRAMWORK5 DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS6 Question 36 Question 47 References:8 Question 1 Using framework from the chapter, analyse the strategic capabilities of Dyson. Dyson’s Value Chain Model Support Activities FirmInfrastructure| Structuring and planning, HQ in UK, manufacturing and testing facility in Malaysia with 120 testing station, patent protection, management, corporate commitment to product development supported by company motto: thinking, testing, breaking, questioning. 50 engineers in Wilshire with 20 specialist laboratories close by. | INFORMATION FLOW Human ResourceManagement| Up-to-date employee details, training, reward scheme, 2500 people working for Dyson around the world, recruitment follows an online process, the right candidate will be called for an interview, recruitment strategy focuses on recruitment of engineers and designers | TechnologyDevelopment| Margin Helps in R&D, which is the key operation, ERD and IRM to manage the information flow within the company, a wide selection of technology involve in production process and technological innovation. Dyson’s technology: multiplier technology and ball technology. | Procurement| Raw materials procure from the UK and Asia. Majority of procurement come from Asia where suppliers are based and cost are low. The material is shipped to Dyson’s manufacturing plant in Malaysia. Malaysia is on of the leading procurement centres in the world. | Primary Activities Inbound logistics| Connected with suppliers, so that they can meet the needs, raw materials, energy, inventory management, reverse logistics process as defective product can be returned to Dyson company at the cost to the customer. The product will be return within 24h to the customer. | Operations| Avoiding unwanted operations and thus enhance the flexibility, manufacturing the products in Malaysia and China, the NQ in the UK, developing and testing the prototypes, sending the prototype through production process. The manufacturing process that converts raw materials into various products. The operation phase is preceded by the development of a prototype. Various forms of technology is used to develop a prototype from special computerized technology to plasticine and cardboard. Outbound logistics| Fast and direct link to distributors all over the world, Dyson’s sell his products directly from their website and retail stores like comet or curry’s. Activities of outbound logistics are customer’s orders which are shipped to different locations around the world. | Research &Development| 50% of the company profit is spend on R&D, 350 engeeners, R&D in the UK, design, technological innovation an d creativity. Marketing & Sales| Electronic market research, advertising, Dyson award for young inventors, online ordering process, online marking, strategy where the customer can shop online with the assistance of customer service agents. The online order makes easy for the customer to choose product, models and performance. | Service| Effective after sales services to the client at cost to the client, 7 days a week customer help line and online customer service, 5 years warranty for Dyson’s products. | INFORMATION FLOW Competency framework model ———————————————— Dyson: threshold resources ————————————————- †¢Engineering design equipment (tangible) ———————————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- †¢Product supplies (tangible) ————————————————- †¢Manufacturing space (tangible) ————————————————- †¢Offices and facilities (tangible) ————————————————- †¢appropriate personnel (tangible) ————————————————- sufficient customers (human resource) ————————————————- ———————————————— - Dyson: threshold competences ————————————————- †¢general management skills including distribution & marketing (intangible) ————————————————- †¢Engineering design skills (intangible) ————————————————- †¢Cost control through manufacturing in low-cost locations; Malaysia and China (tangible) ————————————————- Quality assurance and control, 550 tests before the product will reach production line (tangible) ———————————————â€⠀- †¢The ability to attract customers sufficiently inspired by design to pay premium prices across (intangible), ————————————————- ————————————————- Dyson: distinctive resources ————————————————- †¢James Dyson himself (human resource) ————————————————- The Dyson brand name and strategy of high-end products in an otherwise dull market (intangible source) ————————————————- †¢An HQ building and related laboratories desig ned to foster innovation (tangible resource) ————————————————- †¢Product portfolio and associated patents (intangible) ————————————————- †¢High R&D budget (tangible) ————————————————- †¢Company invests extensively in PR & advertising (intangible) ————————————————- Ownership of the manufacturing facilities and hence control over the working conditions of the employees versus other companies that contract out their manufacturing and can be accused of supporting poor labour conditions different markets (tangible) ——â €”—————————————- †¢ 350 engineers involve in R&D (tangible) ————————————————- †¢ Manufacturing plants in Malaysia and Singapore (tangible) ————————————————- †¢ 120 testing stations (tangible) ————————————————- †¢ Physical products. Space cube kitchen, vacuums, washing machine and air knives (tangible) ————————————————- †¢ Corporate culture, Dyson encourage their workers to think outside the box, the company mix experience engineers with freshly qualified to give them the chance to make a difference, entrepreneurial culture with a huge emphasis on innovation, creativity and initiative (intangible) ————————————————- †¢ Human resources: Dyson is committed to hiring people who are creative and courageous, unconditioned fresh-thinkers (tangible) ————————————————- Finance resources ————————————à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- ————————————————- Dyson: distinctive competences ————————————————- †¢Inspirational leadership around the value of engineering (intangible) ————————————————- †¢Design engineering skills that transform ideas into practicable products (intangible) ————————————————- †¢Competence to make engineering aesthetically attractive (intangible) ————————————————- Seamless value chain despite design a nd manufacturing being in different locations (intangible) ————————————————- †¢Being one step ahead of competitors attracting customers and subsequent followers including premium pricing (intangible) ————————————————- †¢ Attractiveness of their product, never being boring; always being surprising and colourful (tangible) ————————————————- †¢ Marketing expertise (tangible) ————————————————- Manufacturing process, product design: combination of design engineering and manufacturing (tangible) ———— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- †¢ 50% of the profit goes on R&D (intangible) ————————————————- DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS All the key activities in Dyson value chain are intertwined due to very innovative approach to products. Dyson’s decision of moving manufacturing to Malaysia and Singapore was based on reduce cost of production but the profit was not the only reason. Very important was the short distance from the Asian suppliers and primary consumer market. Dyson’s shows very unorthodox approach towards by allocating 50% of their profit into R&D. It proves that it was the right decision by showing three new products; newer root cyclone technology, air-blade hand dryer and bladeless fans. (Arnott, 2010) While leaving its HQ in the UK to be close to centre of innovative technology and development. Their HQ is the centre of developing, testing and prototyping which employees 350 engineers. We cannot forget about inspirational leadership pertaining to the value of engineering and design engineering skills. Dyson’s employment strategy focuses on the recruitment of engineers and designers more than any other group of people. The HR philosophy in Dyson is ‘‘to nurture talent and challenge people to get the best from them’’. Recruited staffs typically follow a linear progression in moving up the ladder of their career. The Dyson website reports that there are 10 different types of benefits, staffs are entitled to. There are 2500 people working for Dyson around the world with a growing demand to recruit more engineers at the Wiltshire head office. Recruitment follows an online process and successful candidates are called for interviews where the best are selected. Dyson’s shows vibrant, entrepreneurial culture with a huge emphasis on innovation, creativity and initiative. Dyson don’t strap people into suit and plonk them behind desks. The staffs are encouraged to develop new ideas outside of the traditional boundaries. Question 2 To what extent do you think any of the capabilities can be imitated by competitors? VRIO FRAMWORK | Valuable? | Rare? | Costly to Imitate? | Exploitable by the Organisation? | Competitive Implications? | | NO| —| —| NO| Competitive Disadvantage| YES| NO| —|   | Competitive Parity| | YES| YES| NO|   | Temporary competitive advantage | | YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 1. Inspirational leadership | YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 2. J. Dyson| YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 3. R&D expertise| YES| YES| Y ES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 4. Physical products| YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 5. Manufacturing plants | YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 6. Design engineering skills | YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 7. The brand name| YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| 8. Corporate culture| YES| YES| YES| YES| Sustained competitive advantage| DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS In my opinion any capabilities can be imitated by competitors with exception of patents which are protected for the limited time period. Competition itself it doesn’t have to be the direct threat but in today’s world allow us close observation resulting in many cases in reverse engineering provoking technology improvements and finding more sufficient solutions. There in not such a thing as a well protected company. Dyson lost case in English Court with TTI) Market share among competitors does not relay on available technology only. There so many different factors like cost efficiency, marketing, advertising, location and so on and those factors are usually used for market domination in the same product range. Every competitive company could be categorizing by distinctive capabilities. Distinctive capabili ties are giving the particulars companies a distinctive edge directly related to market demands e. g. Electrolux – saving products, Dyson –eco-friendly or innovative appearance and Miele – reliability. Question 3 Which of Dyson’s distinctive capabilities may, over time, become threshold capabilities? Distinctive resources and competencies and its diversification rely on certain niche market. Not every consumer is preparing to pay a premium price for the product representing outstanding innovative look and design. Many of us are not prepare to do so because reliability and traditional brand name are the factors instigating our choices. Different companies relay on different strategy to maintain its market position and this is usually based on traditionally recognise distinctive competences, resources and capabilities. There are some companies with well establish markets names which are used by generation of consumers e. g. Electrolux or Miele. In the age of new technologies distinctiveness of the product will loose its grounds towards unification, which proves the point that distinctive resources, competences and capabilities will loose its outstanding values over unification. Dyson is based on innovated look targeting high end product users constantly reinvesting its profit towards new concepts and this idea is very alien for more conservative approach to well establish group of consumers. In my opinion you do try to repair something which is not broken. If the company will consequently follow the idea of JD towards mixing arts and engineering and investment of the huge portion of profit in R&D they will maintain its position in the market leadership. All of the sudden well established companies who dominated market for generations got over come by relatively speaking new comer Dyson Ltd. In order to reverse the situation there are force to rethink own market approach and adapt new ideas e. g. allocation funds for R&D, creativity in product appearance and implementation of new design and technologies. Question 4 Bearing in mind your answers to question 1 and 2, how crucial is Sir James Dyson to the future of the company? What might be the effect of his completely leaving or selling the company? In my opinion JD left the impact not own in his only company but also changed the approach of consumers market towards unusually innovative products. Instead of using straight path and follow existing concepts he is famous for introducing futuristic ideas. This is not easy to implement radically different products although he is doing this with the full determination. Relationship between unconventional design and markets needs is known not always in tune. In his concept thinking, testing, breaking, questioning will always find a group of devoted followers. From practical point of view his smart ideas of protecting his product by patents law secure the company position against the catching up competitors. He showed that simple household products could have very artsy design for which he could charge the premium price. His innovative approach includes unprecedented allocation of 50% of the profit towards R&D. By doing this Dyson is securing strong and save position of his company. Every strategic decision to resign his CEO position allows him to still have very strong impact on a product outcome by holding the key decision to innovated design. If he ever decides to leave or sell the company his legacy won’t be forgotten. This company maintain its leading status would probably prolong his vision in order to stay ahead of competition. If Dyson decides to sell the company and the new owner doesn’t follow his idea the company will become one of many without distinction. References: Arnott, S. , 2010. Dyson Profit Double Thanks to R&D Investment. The Independent, [online] 27 May, Available at http://www. independent. co. uk/news/business/news/dyson-profits-double-thanks-to-rd-investment-1983841. html, [Accessed on 15/11/2011] Barney, J. B. , â€Å"Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage,† Journal of Management 17 (1991), p. 101, [Accessed on 10/11/2011] Campbell, D. , Stonehouse G et al. (2002) Business Strategy-An introduction, 2nd edition, page 40-50, [Accessed on 10/11/2011] Dess, G. G. , Lumpkin, G. T. , et al. , Strategic Management (Boston, McGraw Hill, 2004) pp. 141-148, [Accessed on 17/11/2011] Grand, R. M. Contemporary Strategy Analysis (Cambridge, England: Blackwell Business, 1991), pp. 100-102, [Accessed on 10/11/2011] Grant R. M. , (2006), Contemporary Strategy Analysis, 5th edition, page 146, [Accessed on 11/11/2011] Hitt M. A. , Ireland R. D. , et al. Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization, 4th ed. (Cincinnati, OH: South-Western College Publishing, 2001), [Accessed on 17/11/201 1] Musa, Z. , 2009. Dyson to make Malaysia R&D centre. The star online, [Online 8 October], Available at http://biz. thestar. com. my/news/story. asp? file=/2009/10/8/business/4864485&sec=business, [Accessed on 15/11/2011] M Porter (1990), Competitive Advantage of Nations, Free Press, [Accessed on 10/11/2011] M. E Porter (1985) Competitive Advantage: New York: Free Press, [Accessed on 10/11/2011] Suderland, R. , 2011. Sir James Dyson furious as court rejects appeal over ‘copycat' design case. This is money. [Online 28 October], Available at http://www. thisismoney. co. uk/money/markets/article-2054304/Sir-James-Dyson-furious-court-rejects-appeal-copycat-design-case. html, [Accessed on 15/11/ 2011] http://bookshop. blackwell. co. uk/extracts/9780199203055_wetherly. pdf, [Accessed on 12/11/2011] http://www. yson. co. uk/insidedyson/article. asp? aID=jamesdyson&hf=0&js=, [Accessed 10/11/2011 http://www. guardian. co. uk/uk/2010/jun/22/budget-2010-corporation-tax-slashed-to-24p,accessed 11/11/2011 http://www. hse. gov. uk/news/index. htm, [Accessed on 17/11/2011] www. hoover. co. uk, [Accessed on 11/11/2010] http://www. hrmagazine. co. uk/news/999460/350-new-engineering-jobs-Dysons-laboratories-Wilts hire/, [Accessed on 12/11/2011] http://www. ingenia. org. uk/ingenia/articles. aspx? Index=171, [Accessed on 11/11/2011] http://www. vax. co. uk/about/, [Accessed on 10/11/2011]

Eating Disorders Essay

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the three main types of eating disorders. Central Idea: To inform my audience about anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. Introduction: Two years ago, I was hit with the news that my mentor was leaving to go to Remuda Ranch, which I learned was a rehabilitation center for women struggling with eating or anxiety disorders. This was extremely hard for me to hear because she is like my big sister and I care a lot about her and hated that she had to go through something like this. After she left, I did a lot of research on eating disorders. I did this just so I would have a better understanding on what she was going through, and also to find out how I could help her, things I could say or do. So today I am going to share with you about three different types of eating disorders. Body: (Transition: First, I am going to talk about Anorexia Nervosa.) I. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, they define anorexia by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. A. Anorexia is a mental health condition and is rated one of the highest death rates. 1. Anorexia is one of the more frequent psychiatric diagnoses in young women. 2. Around 90-95% of individuals who suffer from anorexia are female. 3. Anywhere from 5-20% of people who suffer from anorexia will die. B. Although those who fight anorexia have a list of different symptoms, there are four key ones to look for. 1. They refuse to maintain body weight at a minimal normal weight that is healthy for their body shape, age, and height. 2. The second one is that they have a deep fear of weight gain. 3. Also, they have a severe concern with their body weight and shape. 4. Finally, in women, a loss of menstrual periods will occur. (Transition:  Next, I am going to talk about Bulimia.) II. Based off of the website, nationaleatingdisorder.com, Bulimia is a disorder where a person indulges in habitual binges and then tries to avert any sort of weight gain by vomiting, taking pills, fasting, laxatives, or excessive exercising. A. Bulimia is extremely dangerous because it is one of the harder eating disorders to detect in individuals. 1. More commonly, it is preceded by dieting behavior. 2. Those who are bulimic are usually at an average or normal weight. B. Sufferers of bulimia compare their self-worth too heavily on their size and weight. 1. This mindset usually leads to constant feelings of isolation, harmful thoughts, and extreme low self-esteem. 2. Another thing is that more often than not, they recognize that their behaviors and actions are not normal, which sets in an extra feeling of guilt and loneliness. C. Again, there are a ton of symptoms that follow up with having bulimia, but there are four main ones that usually reside in most bulimics. 1. Bulimics repeatedly go through the cycle of bingeing and purging. 2. When they binge, they eat way beyond the feeling of being comfortably full. 3. Most times, bingeing will cause them to feel guilty which points them in the direction of dieting. 4. Last thing is again, they have extreme concern with their body and weight, in other words really low self-esteem and insecurity issues. (Transition: Finally, I am going to end with Binge eating.) III. Binge eating, also known as compulsive eating, a lot of the time gets confused with Bulimia. Although they are a lot alike, they have one major difference that sets them apart. People who endure binge eating do not purge. A. Binge eating is defined by uncontrollable, excessive eating. 1. Binge eaters often use food to replace a void, in other words, they use it as a way to block out feelings, emotions, and daily stresses. 2. After a binge, the person feels a enormous amount of guilt and shame. 3. Following the feelings of guilt and shame often leads to fasts and dieting. B. A binge eating disorder isn’t caused by just one factor, but many. A couple examples of these factors could be a person’s genetics, life experiences, and emotions. 1. Recent research has shown that binge eating, along with other eating disorders, is dealing with  biological abnormalities. The website www.mirror-mirro.com, says that one cause of binge eating is related to the hypothalamus, which is a part of the brain that controls the appetite. It is said that the hypothalamus sends false signals to the brain in regards to hunger. 2. A lot of the time, emotional feelings of depression, is connected to binge eating. Statistics show that half of those struggling with binge eating are depressed or have been, usually dealing with a monumental moment which changed their life. 3. Life changing experiences, like being sexually or emotionally abused, are a huge factor in anyone’s life who suffers from any kind of an eating disorder. Family plays a huge role, whether being extremely critical, especially regarding the body, can lead to being a victim of an eating disorder later in life. IV. Conclusion Whether it be anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating, eight million people in the United States alone, battle with an eating disorder. This number is disturbingly high and continues to increase each year. Although all different: anorexics fight starvation, bulimics wrestle with bingeing and purging, and binge eaters battle with bingeing and fasting. It is important to realize that eating disorders aren’t all about poor self-images and low self esteem, but dealing with many other factors like genetic make-up and the need for control. Works Cited Eating Disorder Information; Bulimia, Anorexia, Binge/Purge & Compulsive Overeating. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. . National Eating Disorders Association. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. . National Eating Disorders Association. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. .

Oliver Stone, Get Your Facts Straight

Oliver Stone, Get Your Facts Straight! Some have said that Oliver Stones The Doors was a realistic and accurate portrayal of Jim Morrisons life and The Doors musical escapades. Unfortunately, director Oliver Stone has a habit of putting his own beliefs and ideas into the mouths of his characters. This would not necessarily be bad if his characters were fictional. Jim Morrison and his fellow band members are real, and those who knew him best are still living. The first major mistake that Stone made took place when Jim and Ray Manzarek (Kyle Maclachlan) were attending UCLA film school. A recreation of Jims short student film is shown. In Stones version there is quite a bit of what seems to be Nazi propaganda. Scenes of Hitler and his troops shouting and holding up Nazi flags are shown with Kilmer reading Jims poetry in the background. The WWII footage in Jims original film was grossly misrepresented. It was a funny, light scene with a large German girl dancing on a T.V. to American rock music in the background. Stones version made Jim out to be a disciple of Adolf Hitler. In addition to all the anti-Semitism Stone placed in the film, he also had Kilmer misquoting Friedrich Nietzsche. The scene at Andy Warhols party was Stones next mistake. Stone manages to make the other members of The Doors into the bad guys. Jim stands alone. It is an emotional scene that has Jim asking the other Doors to stay at the party because he doesnt ...know what could happen tonight, maybe death. All the members of the band were friends, friends that dont desert each other when they are in need. In reality, the other members of The Doors did not leave Jim at the party, and he never verbalized a premonition of anything bad happing. Stone may have needed something to move his plot further, but did he really have to slander others to do this? Another mino...

Beginning Level Curriculum for ESL Classes

Beginning Level Curriculum for ESL Classes This curriculum summary is designed for false beginners. False beginners are typically learners who have had a few years training at some point in time and are now returning to start learning English again for a variety of reasons, such as for work, travel, or as a hobby. Most of these learners are familiar with English and can move pretty quickly to more advanced language learning concepts. This curriculum summary is written for a course of approximately 60 hours of instruction and takes students from the verb To be through present, past, and future forms, as well as other basic structures such as the comparative and superlative forms, the use of some and any, have got, etc. This course is geared towards adult learners who need English for work and, as such, concentrates on vocabulary and forms that are useful for the working world. Each group of eight lessons is followed by a planned review lesson which allows students a chance to review what they have learned. This syllabus can be adapted to fit students needs and is presented as a basis on which to build an elementary level ESL EFL English course. Listening Skills Beginning English learners often find listening skills the most challenging. Its a good idea to follow some of these tips when working on listening skills: To begin with, try to use only one voice for listening comprehension activities. A variety of accents can be added later.Exercises should begin with short form understanding such as spelling, numbers, understanding word form differences, etc.  Gap fill exercises work well for the next step in listening comprehension. Begin with sentence level understanding and move on to paragraph length listening selections.  Once students understand the basics, begin work on understanding gist by providing longer conversations with a focus on understanding the main idea. Teaching Grammar Teaching grammar is a big part of effectively teaching beginners. While full immersion is ideal, the reality is that students expect to learn grammar. Rote grammar learning is very effective in this environment.   At this level, rote activities can help learners understand intuitively. Dont worry too much about grammar explanations.  To help focus on sound rather than rules, repetitive activities can help establish a strong base.Take it in small bites. Pare things down to their essentials once you begin to teach. For example, if you were introducing the present simple dont begin with an example that includes an adverb of frequency such as He usually has lunch at work.  For tenses, stress the importance of time expressions tied to tense. Continually ask students to first identify the time expression or context before making a decision on tense usage.  Correct only those mistakes made in a current objective. In other words, if a student misuses in rather than at but the focus is on the past simple, dont make a point of correcting the mistake in preposition use. Speaking Skills Encourage students to make mistakes, many, many mistakes. Adult learners are often concerned about making too many mistakes and can be hesitant. Do your best to relieve them of this fear!Focus on function for beginning level activities. Set a goal such as ordering food in a restaurant. Help students learn how to functionally succeed in each situation.Switch groups up often. Some students tend to dominate conversations. Nip this in the bud, and change group composition up early and often.   Writing Skills Follow the language: begin with letters, create words, build words into sentences and let those sentences blossom into paragraphs.  Prohibit certain words when writing! Unfortunately, students often fall into the bad habit of using the same words over and over (go, drive, eat, work, come to school, etc.) Brainstorm word lists together as a class and then challenge students to only use certain words or phrases  in their writing.Use symbols to correct. Get students used to the idea that youll use symbols to help them edit their writing. The onus is on the students to correct their own writing.

Successful Quality Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Successful Quality Care - Essay Example Davies and his co-authors (2000) define organizational culture as an organization’s values, norms and beliefs that shape its behavior. As healthcare organizations go through a key reform of their processes of care delivery, they are now increasingly putting more emphasis on organizational culture and its role in driving innovation, facilitating change as well as bringing a transformation in a healthcare system (Shortell et al., 1995a & Ingersoll et al., 2000). Shortell and his co-authors (1995b) assert that successful quality care implementation initiative calls for a significant devotion to a culture that emphasizes risk-taking autonomy and empowerment. In their studies, Sahney & Warden (1991), Wardhani and co-authors (2009), Dean & Bowen (1994), Metri (2005), Hackman & Wageman (1995) and Powell (1995) have underscored the fact that organizational culture successfully drives quality management. According to Rad (2006), quality management practices’ success as an organizational change largely depends on the organizational culture. Apart from the fact that an organizational culture is of great importance to quality management practices’ success, the central function of an organizational culture that creates and manages it is leadership. Leadership imposes the organizational purpose, beliefs, behaviors and leader’s values on the employees of an organization (Schein, 1985; Shaw, 2002; Senge, 1990; Oqbannan & Hrris, 2000). As much as an organizational culture’s leadership affects the culture, an organizational culture affects its leadership (Bass, p63, 1998). Furthermore, through the influence of daily practices, behaviors, and tasks, the leadership style and values of the leaders shape an organizational culture (Sengupta, 2004 & Hofstede et al., 1990).  

The role of government in safety policy for airpotrs since the attacks Essay

The role of government in safety policy for airpotrs since the attacks of september 11,2001 - Essay Example s well as people in buildings and on the ground are to be protected, terrorists of aviation must be prevented from passing through security checkpoints and gaining access to aircraft. Before September 2001, U.S. General Accounting Office’s (GAO) involvement in aviation security was to oversee the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which had responsibility for aircraft safety, all under the auspices of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Studies conducted by the GAO had consistently demonstrated that there were major weaknesses in aviation security and this had been a problem for a long time. Among the most important aspect of these weaknesses involved airport screening. The industry was not required to screen checked baggage on domestic flights and proved inadequate in the detection of threats when carry-on bags or screening passengers prior to their boarding aircraft. It also provided insufficient security for air traffic control computer systems and inadequate means for restricting access to secure areas at airports and facilities. The Congress and the administration have reorganized the federal agencies responsible for transportation security, tr ansferring them to the new Department of Homeland Security, and the agencies are attempting to enhance security without unduly inhibiting the movement of goods and people. The Transportation Security Administration, which was created in November 2001 and has assumed overall responsibility for transportation security, has made considerable progress in addressing aviation security challenges. Prior to 9/11, airline screeners were hired by the airlines or airports directly. They frequently did not detect terrorist material located either on the passengers or in their carry-on baggage. According to a GAO report in June 2000, a study of screeners conducted in 1987 discovered that airport screeners failed to observe 20 percent of the potentially hazardous items that the FAA used in its tests. Data collected